red swollen foreskin (I read the sticky) **update** - Page 3

[Quirky]

Frank, my dh suffers from cold sores - he takes Valtrex to keep them from erupting, which is also prescribed for people with genital herpes. It is possible to contract genital herpes if someone with a cold sore performs oral sex on someone - my understanding is that the two types of herpes simplex can be interchangeable that way. I will tell dh about the ice thing, though!

[QueenOfThePride]

OT - for anyone here struggling with any kind of herpes outbreaks, you might want to try L-lysine supplements. L-lysine is an amino acid and interferes with the herpes virus's ability to replicate. I found this out when researching about cat upper respiratory infections, which are caused by the feline herpes virus. I'm lucky enough to have never had so much as a cold sore myself. Although, chicken pox is a herpes virus, so I've had that!

[QueenOfThePride]

Oh, one more thing, does anyone know if viruses can be cultured??? In school I only learned about culturing bacteria and fungi.

[Frankly Speaking]

Originally Posted by QueenOfThePride

Oh, one more thing, does anyone know if viruses can be cultured??? In school I only learned about culturing bacteria and fungi.

I suppose they could under the right conditions but as I understand it, culturing them is not the problem. It's being able to see them because of their comparable size and the technology required. As an illustration, the comparable size would be like a municipal water tower (bacteria) and a golf ball. (virus) A bacteria can be readily seen with a standard microscope while larger virus would require an electron microscope and some of the smaller ones wouldn't even be visible this way. Electron microscopes are horrendously expensive and are very rare, certainly not standard equipment in the typical medical lab.

I think viruses are confirmed by other means such as genetic markers and symptoms that rely on known qualities rather than direct observation.



Frank

[+stella+]

Gosh its been years since Ive had Micro or virology, but it is my understanding that herpes can be cultured on what they call a "shell vial" and whats in the vial is monkey kidney cells or some other kind of clone cell with a different name depending on the virus. The way they tell what kind of virus is growing is the pattern the innoculated cells grow in after theyve been exposed. Some grow in lines, others speckled patterns, others like a bunch of grapes. They can do both types of herpes and CMV and other viruses as well. Its pretty interesting. Perhaps google some of that.. shell vial cultures and see what you get, like I said its been years for me.

[Frankly Speaking]

Originally Posted by +stella+

The way they tell what kind of virus is growing is the pattern the innoculated cells grow in after theyve been exposed. Some grow in lines, others speckled patterns, others like a bunch of grapes.

That would be a known quality. As I understand it, when the HIV/AIDS virus was first suspected, it was a long while before they knew what it looked like because they couldn't islolate a single virus to observe. For a long time, diagnosis depended on the presence of genetic markers and symptoms. In Africa, that's mainly the way it is diagnosed today and it is very unreliable.



Frank

[hummingbear]

Originally Posted by Frankly Speaking

Herpes is a episodic condition! That is, the symptoms only happen in episodes. They will appear, be present for a few days and then dissappear to reappear weeks months or years later. That is not what has happened with this child. This infection has been going on on a pretty much continious basis for months as would a bacterial or fungal infection.

Unfortunately I can say that herpes can be something that appears continuous for 6 months anyway. Cold Sores were a parting gift from a relationship that went south. In the beginning I had one sore about every other year. Years later, during the second year of my mothering, I had six continuous months of rotating sores. Yes each sore was an episode, however, I had overlapping episodes for the total duration of six months.
Yes I was pretty bummed.

Originally Posted by Frankly Speaking

So, I thought, what can change just one factor that would change the virus's environment so that it couldn't survive? The only thing I could think of was to change the temperature. When I would be in the very begining stages of an outbreak, I would feel a tingling sensation in my lip. I started applying ice to that tingling spot and I would keep applying ice for most of the day. In the 20 or so years since then, I have not had a single cold sore erupt. I've had a slight red bump but the cold sore never came through. The red bump was so slight that no one other than me noticed it. I've also noticed that the episodes came farther apart and the last was more than 6 years ago.

There is another explaination for why ice works. One of the theories for conditions leading to cold sores is explained as excessive heat. Ice takes that heat away. Hence eating hot or spicy foods, sitting in a hot tub, or sunbathing when vulnerable to an outbreak is not a good idea. I know others that swear by this too. Unfortunately ice did not work so well for me when I needed it to. Another strange thing about cold sores is that folks who have had cold sores since their youth reach an age in adulthood (after 30 to 35 or so years of outbreaks) where they no longer have any or so many episodes. So ice and your age may be working together in a great way.

Oh and l-lysine does help. Check with knowledgeable folk for maximum daily dose.

Anyway, I haven't seen an update........... mama~bear

[Frankly Speaking]

Originally Posted by hummingbear

There is another explaination for why ice works. One of the theories for conditions leading to cold sores is explained as excessive heat. Ice takes that heat away. Hence eating hot or spicy foods, sitting in a hot tub, or sunbathing when vulnerable to an outbreak is not a good idea. I know others that swear by this too.

You're telling me that you've heard of my ice trick before? I thought I was totally intelligent to come up with this and now you're bursting my bubble? : I noticed that I would get them along with stress such as dental work, sunburned lips, etc and that's not new information either? Well now, you're totally bumming me out!

Another strange thing about cold sores is that folks who have had cold sores since their youth reach an age in adulthood (after 30 to 35 or so years of outbreaks) where they no longer have any or so many episodes. So ice and your age may be working together in a great way.

OK, now you're piling the abuse on! The incidence of my outbreaks started declining when I was in my late 30's and now you're telling me that they would have started declining anyway? I think I'm just going to have to find a cave to hide in.




Frank

[BeachMom3]

I think it may be a yeast infection, which can result from being on antibiotics. Get your Dr. to prescribe Nystatin ointment. It should clear up in about a week or less. If you cannot get a prescription, use an OTC yeast infection med such as Monistat.